Improved electric switch control device actuating means with suction cup time retardation holding means and weight biassed movable contact member

ABSTRACT

This specification discloses an electric switch control device having a pivotably mounted switch arm and means for biassing the switch arm to a switch-closing position. An actuator rod supports a control member which is engageable and disengageable with the switch arm. When the control member is engaged with the switch arm, a switch-closing position of the arm is prevented. The actuator rod is provided with a suction cup which engages with a second suction cup when the actuator rod is in a position to disengage the control member from the pivotable switch arm. The actuator rod is thus held in that position until entry of air between the suction cups separates them, whence a return spring acts to return the actuator rod to its normal position.

United States Patent Inventor Arthur Goldmin Cambridge, England Appl. No. 848,531

Filed Aug. 8, 1969 Patented June 15, 1971 Assignees Warmex Limited;

Arthur Goldstein Priority Aug. 20, 1968 Great Britain 39783/68 IMPROVED ELECTRIC SWITCH CONTROL DEVICE ACTUATING MEANS WITH SUCTION CUP TIME RETARDATION HOLDING MEANS AND WEIGHT BIASSED MOVABLE CONTACT MEMBER 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 200/33,

Int. Cl H0lh 43/00 HOlh 7/08, Fl 6b 4 7/00 Field ofSearch 200/17, 18,

l 13,sss,320

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,638,517 5/1953 Zarski 200/41 X 3,042,958 7/1962 Spears 248/206 (R)X 3,270,159 8/1966 Soos 200/61.83 X

Primary Examiner-U. R. Scott Attorney- William R. Liberman ABSTRACT: This specification discloses an electric switch control device having a pivotably mounted switch arm and means for biassing the switch arm to a switch-closing position. An actuator rod supports a control member which is engageable and disengageable with the switch arm. When the control member is engaged with the switch arm, a switch-closing position of the arm is prevented. The actuator rod is provided with a suction cup which engages with a second suction cup when the actuator rod is in a position to disengage the control member from the pivotable switch arm. The actuator rod is thus held in that position until entry of air between the suction cups separates them, whence a return spring acts to return the actuator rod to its normal position.

PATENTEDJUNISIBH 3,585,320

\ \I r *MM MIIM.

"FIG.1.

IMPROVED ELECTRIC SWITCH CONTROL DEVICE ACTUATING MEANS WITH SUCTION CUP TIME RETARDATION HOLDING MEANS AND WEIGHT BIASSED MOVABLE CONTACT MEMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a hand dryer according to the invention, a-hinged lid of the dryer being shown in the open position.

FIG. 2 is a and FIG. 3 is a detail view of the control device.

side view of a control compartment of the dryer,

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An object of the present invention is to'provide an electric switch control device for a similar appliance for use with a roll of towelling instead of interleaved paper towels.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an electric switch control device comprising a pivotally mounted'switch arm, means for biassing the switch arm to a switch-closing position, a control member engageable with the switch arm to prevent it moving into the switch-closing position, an actuator rod which supports the control member and is movable between a normal position in which the control member is engaged with the switch arm and a position in which the control member is disengaged from the switch arm, a first suction cup at one end of the actuator rod, a second suction cup engageable by the first suction cup when the actuator rod is in a position to disengage the control member from the switch arm thereby to hold the actuator rod in that position until the cups are permitted to separate by the entry of air between them, and a return spring for returning the actuator rod to its normal position after the cups have separated.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a hand drier comprises a cabinet or housing 1 of sheet metal with a hinged lid 2 at the top. The hinged lid 2 provides access to a towel compartment fora roll T of towelling, preferably paper towelling. The free end of the roll of towelling hangs over a front edge of the towel compartment and extends over a portion of the front of the cabinet. The front edge of the compartment is covered with a strip 3 of rubber or like material. When the lid 2 is closed, the end of the towelling extends through a slot between the lid 2 and the strip 3.

The cabinet also contains an electric heater and a blower which can discharge hot air through an opening at the bottom of the cabinet. Such an arrangement of a blower and electric heaters has previously been described in the specification of British Pat. Nos. 1,053,519, 1,058,564 and 1,066,087, and will not, therefore be further described herein.

The electric heater and blower are set in operation by closure of a main switch S comprising a fixed contact element 4 and a movable contact element 5,. The movable contact element 5 is supported on an arm 6 of insulating material which can rotate about a pivot 7. A weight 8 in the arm on one side of the pivot 7 leads the arm for movement to a position in which the contact elements are closed, but the elements are normally held in their open position by means of a control member 9 carried on an actuator rod 10 of a control device.

The actuator rod 10 is supported in brackets 11 in the cabinet 1. When this rod is depressed, the control member 9 is disengaged from contact with the switch'arm 6 so that the arm can pivot under the action of its weight 8 to close the switch contacts 4 and 5.

When the actuator rod 10 is depressed a rubber suction cup 12 at its lower end is engaged 'with a cooperating fixed rubber 5 cup 13 supported by a bracket I4.'The two cups [2, 13 will then be held together by the effect of suction until sufficient air has seeped in between the two cups to enable them to separate. The time taken for sufficient air to seep in will depend on the firmness of the engagement between the cups. The lower fixed cup 13 is supported on a screw-threaded rod so that its position with respect to the bracket 14 and 12,-and therefore the firmness of engagement between the two cups, can be adjusted. In this way it is possible to vary the time during which the switch contacts are permitted to close under the action of the weight 8. Separation of the cups is assisted by means of acoiled return spring 16, which surrounds the actuator rod 10, this spring bearing between one of the brackets 11 and a washer 17 on the actuator rod 10.

An operating rod 18 extends across the top of the towel compartment, thelid 2 being hinged about the rod. The rod is connected to, or is integral with, a crank arm 19 in the control compartment. This crank arm has an end portion which bears on an abutment 20 at the top of the actuator rod 10. The operating rod has a central crankedportion 21 within the towel compartment. The lid 2 is so arranged that when it is closed it is capable of further movement beyond its normal closed position when pressed by a user of the dryer. As a result of such further movement, the lidwill engage the central cranked portion 21 to rotate the rod 18 and crank 19 thereby to depress the actuator rod 10 by an amount sufficient to permit the switch contact elements 4 and 5 to close and engage the cups 12, 13. l

A spring 24 is connected to the crank arm 19 to assist in disengaging the arm from the abutment 20 when pressure on the lid is released. An adjustable screw 22 limits movement of the arm away from the abutment.

In operation, a user of the device withdraws a desired length of towel and, if the towel is of paper, tears off the desired length. The user then depresses the lip 2 to cause hot air to pass out of the bottom of the cabinet. He can then dry his hands by the combined action of the towel and the hot air.

An auxiliary switch 23 is provided at the front of the cabinet and is operable to obtain a supply of hot air independently of the control device.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric switch control device comprising a housing, a pivotally mounted switch arm with a movable contact member in said housing, a fixed contact disposed within said housing means for biassing the switch armand its movable contact member to a switch-closing position with said fixed contact element, a control member engageable with said switch arm to prevent it moving into said switch-closing position, an actuator rod which supports said control member and is movable between a normal position in which said control member is engaged with said switch arm and a position in which said control member is disengaged from said switch arm, a first suction cup at one end of said actuator rod, a second suction cup engageable by said first suction cup when said actuator rod is in a position to disengage said switch arm thereby to hold said actuator rod in that position until the cups are permitted to separate by the entry of air between them, and a return spring for returning said actuator rod to its nonnal position after the cups have separated.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switch arm is mounted on a pivot arranged between said fixed contact element and a weight which biases said switch ann for rotation in a direction to engage said movable contact element with said fixed switch contact element, said control member being engageable with said switch arm at a position to prevent such rotation. 3. The electric switch control device defined in claim 1 wherein said housing has a compartment provided with a hinged lid, and means for producing a flow of hot air from the housing, a control rod mounted to and rotatable by movement of said lid, said actuator rod fixedly attached to a cranked portion of said control rod, said actuator rod being moved to a position in which said control member is disengaged from said switch arm.

4. The'electric switch control device as claimed in claim 3 

1. An electric switch control device comprising a housing, a pivotally mounted switch arm with a movable contact member in said housing, a fixed contact disposed within said housing means for biassing the switch arm and its movable contact member to a switch-closing position with said fixed contact element, a control member engageable with said switch arm to prevent it moving into said switch-closinG position, an actuator rod which supports said control member and is movable between a normal position in which said control member is engaged with said switch arm and a position in which said control member is disengaged from said switch arm, a first suction cup at one end of said actuator rod, a second suction cup engageable by said first suction cup when said actuator rod is in a position to disengage said switch arm thereby to hold said actuator rod in that position until the cups are permitted to separate by the entry of air between them, and a return spring for returning said actuator rod to its normal position after the cups have separated.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switch arm is mounted on a pivot arranged between said fixed contact element and a weight which biases said switch arm for rotation in a direction to engage said movable contact element with said fixed switch contact element, said control member being engageable with said switch arm at a position to prevent such rotation.
 3. The electric switch control device defined in claim 1 wherein said housing has a compartment provided with a hinged lid, and means for producing a flow of hot air from the housing, a control rod mounted to and rotatable by movement of said lid, said actuator rod fixedly attached to a cranked portion of said control rod, said actuator rod being moved to a position in which said control member is disengaged from said switch arm.
 4. The electric switch control device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said compartment is adapted to contain a roll of towelling and said lid when closed cooperated with said housing to provide a slot through which towelling can pass, said lid being movable beyond a normal closed position to rotate said control rod for closing the switch. 